Today is National Best Friends Day! We can all learn how to be a better friend.

Here are 9 Ways to be a Great Friend, from thehopeline.com

1. Be real. People are turned off by those who are constantly trying to be someone they are not. We are most comfortable around others who are comfortable in their own skin. So just be yourself. Even though you aren’t perfect, the way you handle your strengths and faults with humility and confidence will give other people permission to be real and relaxed with you, as well. Real friends are relaxed around each other.
2. Be honest. Keep your promises and do what you say you’re going to do. Be reliable. Nobody wants to be friends with someone who lies. And lies always have a way of coming to the light. Also, friends will say the truth to one another, even when it’s hard. The wisest man in the Bible, King Solomon, said: Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Shannon got caught up in an eating disorder until her friend called her out: I was addicted to being skinny and looking absolutely perfect. I never really understood what I was actually doing to myself until a good friend of mine talked to me about it.
3. Take an interest in the details of your friend’s life by being a good listener. Don’t watch television or text while your friend is sharing something with you. Most times people need more than good advice, they need someone to listen to them as they talk through their feelings. Ask them what’s going on in their life and how they feel. Mari commented: Kyler is my best friend because he listens. No matter what is going on he is genuinely interested in how I am. He always has my back and would drop everything if I needed him.
4. Make time for your friend. Time is one of the greatest gifts we possess. When we share extra time with a friend, we are giving back to them that gift. No friendship can develop overnight. It takes time. A real friend will take that time.
5. Keep their secrets. Prove yourself to be a trustworthy person who will guard their secrets with your life. A good way to prove you are trustworthy is to be free to share some of your own secrets with your friend. King Solomon also said:  Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. Are you willing to be a friend like that?
6. Encourage your friend. Everyone needs encouragement. Find specific ways to encourage your friend. Even in the depths of their struggles, show them what you see to be special about them and be willing to pick them up when they are depressed or feel like life is pressing in on them from all sides.
7. Be loyal to your friend. This is unconditional acceptance, even when your friend makes a mistake or really screws up. Be there when they are experiencing their highest highs and their lowest lows. Laugh with them, cry with them, don’t just talk about always being there. Prove it in your everyday life! Delaney wrote to me and said: I have great friends who are always there for me and always know how to make me happy.
8. Be willing to work through conflict. Every relationship will hit a speed bump at one time or another. Show your friend you are willing to work through the difficult times of misunderstandings and hurt feelings. Sometimes friendships grow stronger through the difficult times. Don’t give up on your friend just because you are having difficulties.
9. Watch out for your friend. When you see your friend getting into a dangerous situation whether it’s with drugs or alcohol, or maybe even a destructive relationship, be bold enough to step in and protect your friend from the harm you see coming their way. Narda commented: My best friend is more than a best friend, she’s more like a sister. And she feels that same way. We both have each other back, now and forever.

Summer has officially started, even though it may not feel like it!

iMom.com has given us some amazing ideas for how to keep your kids happy and entertained during this summer.

Here are some ideas!

1. Create a Summer Bucket list for your family! What are 10 things that your family absolutely have to do this summer? Make a list of them, and check them off as the summer continues!
2. Create a summer schedule! Each day of the week has a specific topic, and use the calendar to get creative with your kids while also keeping them occupied!
3. Road trip games are always a great way to keep your family engaged and connected during a long ride in the car. See a list of great ideas here!
4. Let your kids explore! Get them outside in nature, and let them be hands on! See ideas here!

See the entire list of 60 ideas here!

Today is a day where we celebrate being nice to one another, how appropriate for the time we are living in!

Say Something Nice Day began in Charleston, South Carolina, when the Mayors of North Charleston and Charleston came together with members of the Charleston-Atlantic Presbytery and the South Carolina Baptist Convention to create a day to be kind to the special people in our lives, like our children.

It’s also a day to remember and celebrate people who provide us with a variety of services, such as bus drivers, healthcare workers, and teachers. And, it’s a great opportunity to apologize to people that we might have wronged or hurt through our behavior. The aim of this special day is to fight against unkindness, bullying, and the lack of politeness that dominates society today. The creators hope that this one day of pleasantness will grow until people are nice to each other every day.

Set an example and encourage your children to be nice to each other on this day.

It’s as simple as complimenting a co-worker, forgiving someone who wronged you, or choosing to react with grace instead of anger.

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:31-32

Here is a complete list of Bible verse that all have to do with kindness.

The Morning Thing Crew shared their favorite thing that happened in May for this week’s Friday Favorites.

Hunter talked about Lifeline 2020.

Marcy talked about Lifeline and Mother’s Day.

Rachel talked about Lifeline and getting her first car.

May is BBQ Month, and Chef Jamie Oliver is giving us some great tips for the best way to barbecue!

Get the right barbecue

It may sound basic but there are two crucial things your burner needs if you want to make great barbecue food. The first thing is, it has to be a charcoal one. There’s nothing wrong with gas barbecues, but you won’t get any extra smoky flavor. You might as well be cooking in the oven, flavor-wise! The second thing you need is a lid. It locks in flavor, keeps the temperature constant and can be used as an extra technique.

Use the right fuel

In the UK, charcoal is usually bought in a rush from a petrol station car park as soon as the sun peeks its head around a cloud. But being prepared can make a huge difference, because the charcoal you use changes the way your food tastes.

If you’re a bit of a pro, try adding wood chips to your charcoal. Hickory and oak are great with fish and pork, while cherry and apple wood add a sweetness to most meats. Just soak half what you’ll use in water to make it last, then add it all once lit.

Wait for the right moment to cook

Barbecuing takes patience and concentration, in that order. You need to wait for the flames to die down – flame-grilled is a very misleading term! You want the coals white hot – by which I mean grey and glowing. That’s the hottest and evenest heat.

Get the temperature bang on

Following on from that, don’t forget that what you have created is a caveman oven, so you need to control the heat just like an oven. DJ BBQ says the best way to test the heat is with your hand. Hold your hand about 12cm/5inches above the grill and see how long you can hold it there comfortably (ie. without screaming).

6 seconds = low heat

4 seconds = medium heat

2 seconds = in DJ’s words “hotter than a goat’s butt in a chili pepper patch”

0 seconds = Hospital. Now.

You also need to control the temperature across the grill. The easiest technique is the half and half – put all the coals to one side, so you have a mega-hot side and one with no direct heat.

Get the best tools

We’ve all accidentally lost a sausage down a grill or flipped a burger over the edge. Well, get yourself a decent fish slice, a heavy-duty oven glove and maybe even a fish grill (clamp/clip/basket thing – we’ve no idea what they are called). The one bit of kit you simply must have is a decent pair of tongs – they give you the most control, and reduce the chances of dropping anything between the grills.

Make your own burgers

Homemade burgers are better. Even if you make them from nothing but salt and pepper and good-quality meat, they will beat anything in the shops. Buy mince with plenty of fat, or get your butcher to give you some minced flank or chuck– you’ll get juicy, flavorful burgers whether you like them pink in the middle or cooked right through.

Fish is great on barbecues

Why do people forget fish? Fish and smoke are such great friends (think smoked salmon!). So get a whole trout or side of salmon, throw some oak chips in and cook like the caveman you always knew you were. If you’re feeling fancy, slice a whole fish open and stuff with lemon, dill and pepper.

Marinade, marinade, marinade!

We all know the phrase “leave for a few hours, ideally over night”. Well that applies doubly to barbecues, to make sure the flavors aren’t overridden by the addition of the smoke. In fact, it’s best to save some marinade when you make, and brush your meat or fish with the marinade every 10 minutes as it cooks. That way it will add moisture, trap the smoke flavor and caramelize gently as it goes.

Don’t ruin the vegetables

I know barbecues are an excuse for us all to turn into carnivores, but fire does wondrous things to vegetables too, if you get the technique right. What you want is that lovely charring along the bars – it looks amazing, and tastes even better. So slice thin, then grill straight away – no oil, no seasoning.

Get the sides right

Sides should never be an afterthought! They will make up two-thirds of what you eat if you’re trying to have something that resembles a balanced meal. You could go for a classic potato salad, or get some corn on the cobs on the grill.

See the entire list here!

MVNU Professor of Visual Communications, Jayme McMillan shared his thoughts about our Lifeline theme of Echo. He also shared how God is working in his life and in the lives of those around him. Listen to the entire conversation here!

For more information about Lifeline 2020, go to www.wnzr.fm

Lifeline 2020 – Thursday, 5/21 and Friday, 5/22 on WNZR! #Lifeline

#WNZR #TheMorningThing #Lifeline2020 #ECHO #MVNU